5-5 Holliday aims to yield big returns for Texans

The NFL’s kickoff rule-changes, implemented last year, were designed to discourage returns.

But even with the alterations, some returners still make opponents nervous.

“If you got a special returner and you take them all out [of the end zone], they’re going to have to kick it out of the end zone,” Texans special teams coordinator Joe Marciano said. “That’s what the Jets do with Cromartie, the Jets take them all out. When Devin Hester’s back there, he’s not back there to take a knee. The guys get juiced up to block for him.”

So can Texans returner Trindon Holliday be that good?

“Yeah, he could be as good as those guys,” Marciano said.

It will be the best case Holliday has for making the Texans’ 53-man roster after spending his first season on injured reserve and his second with time on the practice squad. And Holliday is off to a strong start. In his first preseason game, Holliday scored on a 90-yard kickoff return that became one of SportsCenter’s top 10 plays from the weekend.

“If he scores a touchdown in these first four preseason games, he’s going to be on this roster,” Marciano said, chuckling.

Holliday is accustomed to having to fight his way into getting chances in football. At 5-foot-5, his stature isn’t typical of a football player – he is the shortest player on the Texans roster.

“I think it’s an advantage when I’m returning,” Holliday said. “I guess I’m so small, I get to hide behind the guys. They don’t see me, I just pop out of nowhere.”

He was a talented returner at LSU. The Texans envisioned that role for him when they drafted him in the sixth round in 2010, and hoped he could be effective in a situational role offensively, utilizing his speed.

Rarely do the Texans keep a player strictly for returns. Last year two players with significant roles on offense and defense, starting safety Danieal Manning and receiver Jacoby Jones, handled return duties. With returns devalued lately, most teams shy away from players with such specialized focuses.

“If you’re on the team you’ve got to be able to do a lot of things,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “No doubt.”

Still, the training camp roster has no shortage of young receivers on whom the coaches need to see film. Kubiak noted in a press conference Sunday that because of that there hadn’t been much opportunity for Holliday offensively.

He added Monday that he hoped to give a little more time offensively to Holliday this weekend against the 49ers. Holliday has been better as a receiver during training camp. He also had a strong offseason in minicamp and organized team activities.

Where Holliday could set himself apart, perhaps force the Texans to keep six receivers instead of five, is in the return game.

“There’s places for just returners in this league. When you’re setting a 53-man roster, that’s a very valuable position,” Kubiak said. “That guy is going to touch the ball a great deal throughout the season, so if he’s special and can make those type of plays Trindon did the other night, you have to seriously consider having it.”

So far, Holliday’s body has complied after a thumb injury his rookie year and a hamstring injury last year. He knows good health and an electrifying first game is only the first step. His decision-making, consistency and versatility will matter for the rest of the preseason.

“I don’t feel like I have to hit a home run,” Holliday said. “I just feel like I have to come out and get some big returns to show the coaches that I’m capable of making big things happen in the return game.”